Writing as a Sacred Path: A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose

A supportive guide to approaching writing as a sacred art and to discovering spirituality through the process of writing.

In this inspiring guide, writing teacher and anthropologist Jepson draws on her worldwide travels and studies of spiritual traditions to present a refreshing approach to the art of writing. Through rituals, exercises, dream analysis, and more, writers wiA supportive guide to approaching writing as a sacred art and to discovering spirituality through the process of writing.

In this inspiring guide, writing teacher and anthropologist Jepson draws on her worldwide travels and studies of spiritual traditions to present a refreshing approach to the art of writing. Through rituals, exercises, dream analysis, and more, writers will find fresh techniques for honing their skills, overcoming creative blocks, and finding their authentic voices, while writing bravely, honestly, and with true vision....more

Community Reviews

To be honest, I shied away from Jill Jepson’s Writing as a Sacred Path for a long time because I was put off by the title and the concept it suggests. This is not a criticism of Jill, but an indication of my own tastes. I’m as far away from approaching anything mystically/spiritually as it comes.

But something caught my eye in Jill’s introduction to what turns out to be an entirely useful and practical guide to motivating the writer. To paraphrase her: the writer’s impulse, which all writers shaTo be honest, I shied away from Jill Jepson’s Writing as a Sacred Path for a long time because I was put off by the title and the concept it suggests. This is not a criticism of Jill, but an indication of my own tastes. I’m as far away from approaching anything mystically/spiritually as it comes.

But something caught my eye in Jill’s introduction to what turns out to be an entirely useful and practical guide to motivating the writer. To paraphrase her: the writer’s impulse, which all writers share, requires a long, often fruitless, labor that is not terribly fun, exhilarating or delightful. We labor alone, and are not a good judge of our output, and often the external judgment is a negative one: the rejection letter.

Our most ardent supporters – friends and family – are not well-positioned to give us what we need: they can’t possibly understand, unless they are writers themselves, why our art makes us crazy.

If they attempt to provide solid criticism, they know they risk our hurt feelings. Even positive feedback from our inner circle can’t be trusted as we suspect people are trying to be nice. So it’s a lonely road.

And an unpaid one. We learn early our motivation cannot come from any external, monetary reward, as the pay for the most part is entirely nonexistent.

Jill characterizes the true source of our writerly drive as a calling, for why else would we insist on the head-banging-against-the-wall experience otherwise known as the writer’s life. That was a revelation to me, and it came at a time when I was down in the dumps about an aspect of my writer’s life, and considering, for the umpteeth time, of stopping the madness.

Jill’s approach helped me understand why, for the many times I’ve told myself I’d never write another word (after the constant piling on of dissapointments, a.k.a., rejections), I’ve come back to my computer, my journal, and find myself at it again. And if this was the only nugget I took away from Writing as a Sacred Path, it’s a great one. I can stop asking myself why I do it. It’s a calling much like some people are called to their faith. In fact, I came away from the book with an insight about faith as well.

But beyond providing salve for a particularly weary writer’s soul, Jill offers a number of thoughtful exercises, some falling into the very basic category (writing by mixing the senses – or synaesthesia ), and others unique (coping with the many forms the ‘demon editor’ assumes, including the internal one) , any of which might help a writer through a block – whether that’s starting from scratch, or revising existing work. The book works for both beginning writers, and those needing fresh inspiration. It would be useful for a handbook of exercises for a writing group.

The ‘exercises’ are labeled as ‘sacred tools’ and I know that the point of doing that is to give that sense of writer’s calling its due respect, but I’d have preferred a less sacrosanct description in this branding-obsessed world. The fact of the matter may be that the truth is I hold the “sacred” in higher regard, it is not a servant of ink-stained mortal pursuits; and perhaps I don’t believe that writing needs a touch of the divine as some kind of endorsement of its worthiness as an avocation.

I may eventually find the idea of a “sacred” path less disagreeable. For now, it’s enough for me to think of my writing obsession for what it is, elevate it to a calling, and use the fresh ideas Jill offers in Writing as a Sacred Path to help me answer that calling. Jill also blogs on the same topic, offering additional fresh ideas and thoughts. http://writingasasacredpath.blogspot....Jill Jepson...more

The journey home requires travel in foreign lands. The prodigal son could not love his father until he had left him; his older brother never did (Luke 15). Much like contrast reveals the outlines of what we see, sometimes it is helpful to explore foreign lands in finding our way home.

In her book, Writing as a Sacred Path, Jill Jepson teaches writing through exercises in alternative, especially eastern, spiritual traditions. She writes:

One of the writer’s highest goals is to express the inner wThe journey home requires travel in foreign lands. The prodigal son could not love his father until he had left him; his older brother never did (Luke 15). Much like contrast reveals the outlines of what we see, sometimes it is helpful to explore foreign lands in finding our way home.

In her book, Writing as a Sacred Path, Jill Jepson teaches writing through exercises in alternative, especially eastern, spiritual traditions. She writes:

One of the writer’s highest goals is to express the inner workings of the human spirit in ways that evoke understanding and empathy. By making it possible for people of different regions, beliefs, and cultures to communicate, by allowing people to share each other’s experiences and views of the world, the writer acts as a warrior for peace (198-199).

Because many screen plays employ eastern spiritual practices and sometimes even eastern themes and settings, it is not surprising that this book would be published in California and writers there would find these exercises helpful.

Jepson writes in 10 chapters organized in 4 parts:

1. The Mystic Journey (Transcendent Awareness; Crazy Wisdom), 2. The Monastic Path (The Writer in Silence and Solitude; The Writer in Community) 3. The Way of the Shaman (Darkness and Healing in the Writer’s Path; Sacred Ground), and 4. The Warrior Road (Honor and Courage in the Writing Lift; Strategy and Skill for the Warrior Writer).

She describes these 4 parts as gateways to the sacred (9). The first two chapters (The Call and The Sacred Gift) function as an introduction. A conclusion (Walking the Sacred Path) follows chapter 10. The conclusion is followed by endnotes, a bibliography, an index, and a brief description of the author. Jepson describes herself as: a writer, traveler, linguistic anthropologist, and college professor (246). She knows her stuff.

Chapter 2, The Sacred Gift, bears special attention because it focuses on the critical role of stories in affecting personal and social change (21). The writer, as storyteller, plays a pivotal role in culture. Citing Buddhist and Hindu origins, she defines the idea of a mandala--a geometric depiction of the cosmos making our universe understandable--the opposite of a monkey mind--a chaotic, rapidly changing state of mind (21). A mathematical model or graph might, for example, function as a mandala. Jepson might easily have cited Jesus’ use of parables in illustrating the transformational potential of stories.

Jepson applies her lessons through spiritual exercises which she annotates as: sacred tools. The book provides dozens of these tools. These exercises can have a couple steps or be rather lengthy. One tool, for example, is a visualization exercise:

Walking in someone’s shoes is certainly an old idea, but it is also a helpful writing exercise in any tradition.

Jepson has written an insightful writing manual. Writing as a Sacred Path is a fascinating book. The blend of Christian and pagan references, however, could easily lead to spiritual confusion. Christian spirituality begins with God, not with us. When we engage in spiritual practices designed to enhance our talents or power over ideas, we stray from Christian into pagan practice. This is a journey that writers need not and should not take lightly.

This is not a book to read cover to cover. Rather it is a manual, a 'how to' in one sense. The exercises in the book guide a writer through writer's block and into the flow. If you've ever experienced 'flow', you'll know it can be a mystical experience and that many of us feel we do our best writing there. This guide helps you envision yourself as mystic, shaman, warrior and more, all in the pursuit of the best writing you can produce.

I recommend you read one chapter and then sit with it for a tThis is not a book to read cover to cover. Rather it is a manual, a 'how to' in one sense. The exercises in the book guide a writer through writer's block and into the flow. If you've ever experienced 'flow', you'll know it can be a mystical experience and that many of us feel we do our best writing there. This guide helps you envision yourself as mystic, shaman, warrior and more, all in the pursuit of the best writing you can produce.

I recommend you read one chapter and then sit with it for a time, applying what works for you and trying it on for size, before moving on to the next.I also think it would work really well as the basis for writing workshops and retreats. I suggest keeping this book handy, for those times when you feel that you just cannot see through the quagmire to the story....more

I like a book that recognizes that writing has its spiritual side. This book is a little unfocused for me, but that may well reflect my European background meeting the book's Eastern culture. I did find several great tools to use in here. I always enjoy a book that challenges me on real levels, not by swearing at me. It took me about halfway through to adjust to the language and perceptions, but I got the hang of it and enjoy practicing some of the principles in writing and/or daily life. I wasnI like a book that recognizes that writing has its spiritual side. This book is a little unfocused for me, but that may well reflect my European background meeting the book's Eastern culture. I did find several great tools to use in here. I always enjoy a book that challenges me on real levels, not by swearing at me. It took me about halfway through to adjust to the language and perceptions, but I got the hang of it and enjoy practicing some of the principles in writing and/or daily life. I wasn't planning on keeping the book, but then I looked at it today and realized I had carefully added some post- it notes to certain passages. Guess it's staying for awhile! ...more

Would have liked to have given this one a 3.5. Very interesting take on the writing life. The second half (shaman and warrior) appealed to me more than the first half (mystic and monk), which frankly surprised me a little, especially the mystic part--figured I'd be more into that. In any case, some interesting exercises that focus on things you might not ordinarily think of as related to writing, but that make you think.

Oh, this was a great find---this book turns out to be both inspiring AND useful. It made me think a lot about the creative journey we're on, as writers---it's a big one, a deep one. What we do is sacred. This author does a great job of helping you explore that, and there are a ton of exercises to keep you writing and growing. If you liked The Artist's Way, you're going to like this, too.

Writing isn't just a way of releasing information. On the other side, it is a way of helping someone to learn, not always in the traditional way but it can be just as inspiring to the author as the reader.